Preview:
Only Islamabad United has won the HBL Pakistan Super League championship twice. When they defeated Peshawar Zalmi by three wickets in Karachi in 2018, they won their second championship. They were the inaugural champions in 2016.
When the eighth HBL PSL season begins, United will be seeking to add the Supernova Trophy to their collection. On February 16, they face the Karachi Kings at the latter’s residence to start their tour.
Batting Depth:
United’s strategy is to have international players occupy their best positions, and this time they’ve sought to add depth to it by considering which players would be available at which points in the competition.
Islamabad United has relied on its depth in the batting order to play an aggressive style of cricket.
In the top position, Paul Sterling and Alex Hales form a potent combination to attack the opposition right away, much as Luke Ronchi once did for them.
They have Azam Khan and Asif Ali, two of cricket’s best hitters, in their ranks if their opening combo wasn’t already explosive enough.
The most intriguing new player in their lineup is Hassan Nawaz, who has already gained a sizable following thanks to his elegant outings in the previous Kashmir Premier League.
They boast all-round batsmen Faheem Ashraf, Tom Curran, and Gus Atkinson among their fast bowlers. Additionally, Hasan Ali and Mohammad Wasim Jr. have demonstrated their hitting power at various points in their careers.
They may thus bat up to number 10, which is ideal for their kind of cricket.
Bowling Depth:
This season, Shadab Khan’s all-around skills will be crucial for United. Abrar Ahmed is a capable ally for Shadab, who was particularly outstanding with the ball in last year’s T20 World Cup. Abrar has been in excellent form from the beginning of the season and was finally chosen for Pakistan’s Test team because he had the most wickets taken in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. In the game’s shortest form, Abrar would like to maintain his strong form and team up with his captain for a devastating spin combination.
They also have Zafar Gohar, Moeen Ali, and Mubasir Khan in the spin all-round depth, who may offer solid assistance.
Young Talent:
Zeeshan Zameer, who bowled only 15 balls in the previous edition, made an impression as he disturbed and picked out Babar Azam, is a promising new asset for United in terms of quick bowling.
They may be a bit concerned about Hasan Ali’s performance, but they do have capable back-ups in Wasim Jnr and Faheem Ashraf, who have recently excelled in the Bangladesh Premier League and Big Bash League, respectively.
They have welcomed back their dependable and seasoned bowler, Rumman Raees, to cover the left-arm fast bowling in lieu of Fazal-e-Haq Farooqi, who won’t be available for the first few games. Toward the finish, they will also have the services of veteran English pacer Tymal Mills.
Squad of Islamabad United:
Shadab Khan | Azam Khan | Colin Munro | Fazalhaq Farooqi |
Asif Ali | Faheem Ashraf | Paul Stirling | Abrar Ahmed |
Mohammad Wasim Jnr | Hasan Ali | Alex Hales | Sohaib Maqsood |
Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Rumman Raees | Zeeshan Zamir | Hassan Nawaz |
Mubasir Khan | Tom Curran | Zafar Gohar | Moeen Ali (available from March 14) |
Tymal Mills (partial replacement for Alex Hales) | Rassie van der Dussen (partial replacement for Moeen Ali) | Gus Atkinson (partial replacement for Rahmanullah Gurbaz) |
Probable XI:
Alex Hales | Rassie van der Dussen | Azam Khan |
Paul Stirling | Shadab Khan (c) | Asif Ali |
Wasim Jr | Tom Curran | Faheem Ashraf |
Hasan Ali | Zeeshan Zameer |
Fixtures:
Date | Match Between | Location |
---|---|---|
February 16, 2023 | Karachi Kings vs Islamabad United | National Bank Cricket Arena, Karachi |
February 19, 2023 | Multan Sultans vs Islamabad United | Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan |
February 23, 2023 | Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United | National Bank Cricket Arena, Karachi |
February 24, 2023 | Quetta Gladiators vs Islamabad United | National Bank Cricket Arena, Karachi |
February 27, 2023 | Lahore Qalandars vs Islamabad United | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
March 3, 2023 | Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings | Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
March 5, 2023 | Islamabad United vs Quetta Gladiators | Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
March 7, 2023 | Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans | Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
March 9, 2023 | Islamabad United vs Multan Sultans | Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
March 12, 2023 | Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi | Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
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